The Open Window

The Open Window -
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How to Clarify Vocabulary with Context Clues


Read the text
Find a clue
Analyze the clue
Replace unknown word with your guess
Check if it make sense with you guess



The Text Says:
You wont speak to anyone down there. Your nerves will be worse than ever from moping.

What does moping mean?

  • Find Context Clues: Look for word that might give you clues to the meaning.

  • Analyze the Clues: Use the clue to determine the meaning of the word.
    • Think what does it mean if he will not talk and his nerves will be worse.
    • Think It does not mean he is happy. It must mean acting sad.

  • Replace the Word: Change the unknown word to the word you think it means and decide if it makes sense with the rest of the story.
    • Your nerves will be worse than ever from acting sad.




The text says:
He wondered whether Mrs. Sappleton was married or widowed.

  • Find Context Clues: married or widowed
  • Analyze the Clue:
    • Think - or, that word suggest an opposite. Married means has a husband, so widowed must mean no husband.
  • Replace the Word:
    • He wondered whether Mrs Sappleton was married or had no husband. Does that make sense?
    • no husband is not the full meaning, but is close. It means her husband died. You can guess that by the rest of the story.







The text says:
...Places that used to be safe to walk across were not safe. The marsh gave way suddenly without warning.

  • Find Context Clues: Places that used to be safe to walk across....
  • Analyze the Clue:
    • Think - places safe to walk across..........gave way; it must mean broke causing them to fall into the marsh
  • Replace the Word:
    • ...Places that used to be safe to walk across....broke causing them to fall into the marsh
    • Does your guess make sense?




The text says:
...left through the that window to go hunting. They never came back....Their bodies were never recovered.

  • Find Context Clues: left, never came back, bodies...never
  • Analyze the Clue:
    • Think - It says they left and never came back. Bodies...never what?
  • Replace the Word:
    • ...left through the that window to go hunting. They never came back....Their bodies were never found.
    • Does that make sense?





The text says: ..I almost get a creepy feeling that they will walk in through that window....
She stopped with a little shudder.

  • Find Context Clues: I almost get a creepy feeling....
  • Analyze the Clue:
    • Think - It says creepy feeling. That suggest ...........
  • Replace the Word:
    • ...I almost get a creepy feeling that they will walk in through that window....She stopped with a little --------.
    • Does your guess make sense?




  • romance
  • coincidenceIt was certainly an unfortunate coincidence that he should have paid his visit on this tragic anniversary.
  • marsh
  • bog
  • veracity
  • infirmity
  • imminent
  • rural
  • engulfed